Ellie, at 5 years old, came into our lives in June 2019 three months after we lost our rescued Goldie, Skye, to cancer. Val and I always believed that a new dog wasn't replacing any of our previous pets, but a compliment to the joy that they had given our family over many years. Similarly, we wanted them to be individuals with their own characters not substituted clones, Ellie certainly turned out to fill that wish.
Ellie had had a good and happy life previous to coming to us, but due to domestic circumstances her owner had reluctantly had to let her go to a new home and contacted The Rescue Trust of NWGRC.
We were on the waiting list to re-home and were contacted by Pat and arrangements made. Ellie was brought to us by Pat and Jim and it was love at first sight, so Ellie became an instant family member and Ellie loved being in a home with someone there all day,
It sounds dramatic but coming to us saved Ellie's life, she hadn't been spayed so we arranged this as soon as possible. During the procedure it was noticed that one of her ovaries was suspect and subsequent histology showed early ovarian cancer, fortunately probably found early enough to have a good prognosis. We are now almost 2 years on and she seems fine, always at the back of my mind though, however, without being spayed the outcome would certainly have been different.
Val would take her on long walks, with frequent stops chatting to friends and acquaintances with Ellie being everyone and every dog’s friend, and we took her in the car on day trips and shopping so she was, and is, fully integrated in our family life.
In October of 2019 our family life started to change dramatically as Val went into hospital for what should have been a minor surgical procedure, however, undiagnosed health problems caused complications which deteriorated rapidly with Val leaving us in November 2019. Still in hospital, one of her last instructions to me was " promise you won't send Ellie back " a lifetime promise that will be kept.
TAILS OF A RESCUE – ELLIE
Since then Ellie has been my companion and my friend. She is playful, mischievous, sympathetic and noisy, especially with the Postie, as she recognises the red uniform from a distance. Our daughter and son-in-law have a 2 years old Labradoodle, Colin, and the pair of them are great friends and have monumental play fights indoors and runs in the park, where they meet up with regular pals. Ellie frequently meets and plays with Marley, a 9 stone St Bernard, she is the only adult St Bernard that I have ever seen playing so it's a happy sight.
How have we managed over the past year and a half? Well, we have managed as a family, we were and still are very close, obviously Covid and lockdowns have not made things easy but we have stayed in contact by video, phone, and bubble meets in the park weather permitting. Friends and relatives nationwide have kept in touch and been very supportive and Ellie has been there for me 24/7,
We have developed routines, early morning out in the garden, fortunately a reasonable sized completely dog safe, then back to bed for a while and get Alexa to read the news, breakfast for both of us and a little piece off my toast saved for Ellie, finalize the day's plans, remove slippers, Ellie gets immediately excited, dashes round making strange noises and has that look "what are we doing dad? Hope it's Rivington or the park" I'm sure we are all familiar with. If I have to leave her we have a different routine, she has her unique protests, so her water bowl has to be emptied or she will use her paw to scoop the water out onto the tiled floor making it rather slippery, has she forgotten Val, they only really had four months together but had a very strong bond, I think that she's still remembers, as every time she walks around the bedroom she looks at Val's side of the bed for Val and she stops at the top of the stairs in the morning and has a listen for mum who was an early riser. Yes, dogs do remember people just as we remember our dogs.
I have to admit shedding a few tears writing this but Ellie immediately came and sat by my side and put her paw on my knee to say "I'm here dad".
John Taylor FIBMS
ALBERT’S STORY
I am Julie, married to Martyn. Albert was our granddog, he belonged to our son, Philip, and his wife, Triscia.
Albert was born on 1 March 2017. He was the youngest and smallest of eight puppies. He joined our family on 11 May 2017, he immediately became a much-loved member of our family – it was love at first sight. When Martyn and I retired, Albert split his time between his home and our house, usually spending 3 nights each week at our house where he was spoiled with lots of treats and cuddles.
Like most goldens he loved his teddies leaving them all over the house for us to fall over. Albert loved to look out of the window – he was our own neighbourhood watch and barked at anyone who walked past. He loved his frisbees and playing tug-of-war – you wouldn’t get them off him he would always win. Although preferring frisbees he would take other dogs’ tennis balls and hide them in his mouth looking ever so innocent.
Albert loved his life living at the seaside here in Cleveleys. Going for long walks along the promenade and going in the sea. He loved lying in puddles – the muddier the better but wasn’t keen on being hosed down afterwards. He loved meeting other Goldens and regularly attended local meetups of the North West Golden Retriever Get Togethers.
Albert is such a happy smiley dog, the kindest, loveliest, loving, loyal and adorable dog you could ever meet. He is absolutely gorgeous, and he knows it.
Our lives changed forever when on Monday 20th December 2021, Albert took a biscuit off our 18month old grandson and unfortunately Albert’s fang tooth caught baby’s face. Albert was never left alone with the baby; mum was present at the time, but it all happened so fast. Baby underwent 3hrs of surgery at the Royal Manchester Children’s’ Hospital and is now scarred for life. Thankfully, baby is alright and didn’t realise what had happened, but we were left with no choice but to re-home our beloved Albert.
We would never have considered selling him. He was family and we wanted assurance that he would go to a loving home, to people who specifically wanted to re-home a Golden, and who would love and spoil him. Thankfully Pat and the Rescue Trust of NWGRC were able to find Albert a loving home and we are forever grateful to them.
We are all quick to judge when a child is bitten by a dog thinking the dog is a vicious breed with bad owners. Our experience shows this can happen to any family and that even Goldens can have a moment of madness, we took our eyes off him for one split second and his instincts took over and he grabbed the biscuit.
We don’t blame Albert; we still love him to the moon and back and wish things could have been different. He took with him a huge chunk of our hearts, leaving us with massive holes that will never heal. We miss him so very much and will never, ever forget him. This is the last photo we have of him sat by our Christmas Tree the day before he left.
We hope Albert is happy and smiley in his new life in the Midlands with his new owners, we only want the best for him.
By Julie Kay
(Albert’s Grandma)
‘A NOTE TO PAT’
You found me the Birthday Present I wanted most of all! You found me Charlie.
Charlie has made himself very much at home and has bonded with me. He has met and made friends with the postman, milkman, window cleaner (who has taught him to shake a paw), the gardener (who has two dogs of his own) and lots of people who have called to see and say hello to my handsome boy! I am so proud of him, he was well worth waiting for.
I washed all of Ben’s toys for Charlie, so as I fetch them in, Charlie takes them out. He jumps into the sand-pit, which is behind the garage near to a pool, and digs and digs, until he makes a kind of nest for himself, then he lies down in it, I suppose it’s cool for him. He has to take his teddy with him, so because his teddy was full of sand, he had to be washed and hung out on the line to dry.
Charlie is so good at having everything done. He likes to be brushed, and he has his ears and the corner of his eyes cleaned with no argument. It is good to get him used to it in case the vet ever needs to do it at any time.
I am doing what you suggested, Pat, with the Iams. Chappie is working fine, but he has to have several goes at it, so I am putting slightly less in his bowl. Charlie comes along and finishes it off when he wants it or feels hungry.
I just wish every animal got the same chance of love, attention and well-being: the world would be a much better place.
My dog groomer, Catherine, came along on Monday and bathed Charlie. He had been rolling in the grass and rubbing himself on a bush, and I thought that a bath might help and I think it has. Catherine said he was very good, he was messing about a bit at the beginning, so she let him calm down, and then just concentrated on his feet and legs as his coat was OK.
Thank you both again, very much, we will keep in touch.
Love from Charlie and my Mum xx
A PAWSOME ENDING
Here’s a pawsonal note from Frank
Frank Lumb here, reporting from ‘dat day place called Wirral. I’m now 2½ years old and I live with my pawrents, Chris, Lisa and Jake. I blessed them with my presence when my old pawrents couldn’t look after me anymore. So, off I went with my toys and got these folks to dote over me. It was so easy, I just rolled on my back, showed them my belly and they loved me immediately.
When I got to my new home I couldn’t believe my luck. A big garden to do zoomies and dig in (I think the holes in the lawn look great), and lots and lots of toys to play with. I was told the toys belonged to my pawrents old Golden Retriever called Bailey. I’ve seen his photograph and he was very handsome, a bit like me really. Mum thinks Bailey sent me to heal her broken heart, as I arrived on Christmas Eve and this would have been Bailey’s 13th birthday. I get extra cuddles for that, which of course I’m happy to take.
I’ve got to put my paws up though and admit I’m a bit naughty on the lead, especially when I see my doggy chums. I mean, I’m in my velociraptor phase anyway, but I tend to get a bit excited and want to say ‘hello’ and play. It’s just I do get a bit loud and can sound scary. I don’t mean to, and I’m trying really hard to be good. Mum and Dad keep saying I’m a ‘good boy’ so I must be doing ok and getting better. They’ve told me a special man is coming to see us all on Valentines Day and help out. I’ll have him twisted around my paw in no time and then treats will be mine, oh yes … all mine.
I’m a really lucky boy as I get lots of cuddles, tickle belly time and runs on our local beaches, woods and fields. I love finding smelly mud too. I’m meeting lots of new doggy friends. My bestie is called Poppy the whippet who lives over the road. We have lots of play dates and playing chase, she is so fast though.
I’ve even been swimming as we live near the sea, which I love. Ok, I’ll admit I occasionally get mixed up between water and huge, smelly, muddy puddles - that means bath time!! Who enjoys them?!! I mean, the indignity of being lifted in and out of the bath - the water is even CLEAN!!!
But, I honestly couldn’t be a happier boy and I love my new home. My mum, dad and Jake are fab and really look after me well. I love them already and they love me, especially my wake-up calls. So, thanks to everyone at the Rescue Trust for giving me my new pawrents. I’m really settled and couldn’t be happier, even my vet is a cool dude and the vet nurses love me too. Right, that’s it, I’m finished. Dad will translate this into human speak for me. Now, it must be treat or carrot munching time.
